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E. E. WERNER.

APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF GASES BY ELECTRIC DISCHARGE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4. I920 Patented iDec. 28,* l920.,

Wm w @M Z e 1% 7% NW wwww m Q E M Application filed. March To a]! 'LUiZOhZ 1'25 "/zzc/y concern e it knowmthat i. fin); :s'r la. ll icnxicn. a citi i 1 United States. residiu State oi provcni o l on .i of elect r :1 special rei m'ence to proveine its tin pe oi' apparatus so in 111V prior "atent for iilf hi. date.

eeinhcr 2t). 1! The particular obi-i nrv present invention i to provide 1 proved airgap and closer regulation o; current passing through the airgap the producing materially greater ellicienc ml. as regards the current consumption as vel as the vield ot the resultant gas.

The patent above cited deals with the for mation of disruptive electrical dischargx across an airgap and the injecting of as under pressure into'the gap transversel} to the normal or direct course of the arc. thereh v deflecting the discharge from such course and elongating it in a late 'al direction: and by varying the pressure of tl e so injected e rrespondingly 'arvmg the extent of such detlection and elongation of the arc and th eby r dating the volume l disch e to which the gas or surface of t is exposed.

The eiiicienc of this device, while l'ull v snbstant-iat t eihciencj: the step-up transformer. G ven tie maximum attenuation the ap iaratus of cour "eultant e A becomes. as regards the *emel r sensitive and :ponds to min variations of the inductance in the circuit. Such maximum attenu- .11 We was-rin Specification of ELECTRIC ,D

. atenntcd Letters Patent.

1920. Serial NO. 363,213.

ition with the resultant ellieiency referred {,0 l secure in my present invention by the provision oi a chamber oi novel shape inin; the electrodes and into whiclra blast air is blown which in the normal course it it. tpansion would assui a shape which would approximate the in. red crossse' which tional shape of the chauib =.|1scha ed.

i l is an assembly 4; arcing; unit shown in clev the c; mg heing broken av irate the construction; i i view of the inductance Oil tical elevation in Fig. 1; hip tal en on the line 3 Slot Fi} in the direction ol the arrow top plan view of the air-noxylci vcrtical sectional view thereof it T meral l indicates a metallic 'upporting plate for the entire appa 2 tus. liounted on this plate are suitably spaced hos. 2s 2-, which in turn support a metallic plate 3. upon which is mounted a casing -l. providing a gas chamber. In this using there is provided an observation window through which the action of the discharge, to he later rcterred to, may be observed. The numeral (3. indicates a boss to which ma}, be attached a pipe, (not shown) for arrying off the gas moducedhv the action of the apparatus. "he-numeral T indicates an elbow to which connected a pipe 8 and a w rew-threaded nipple the latter having a smooth up\ 'ard extension shown in Fig. 3, forming an airule 10. The name "at 11. indicates an inrating plate and the numeral l2 indicates sleeve having central threaded :ion l3. whicu is screwed and prots ahove. the insulatin 11. said iectin" nut 1- by ans o d on the insu ,i pla 1-, i2 is prod with a sinoc tends up 13. said bore snugly receiving the air-nozzle 10 in such manner that the sleeve 12, with the plate 11 and the parts carried thereby, can be adjusted as to height on the air-nozzle 10.

adjusted positions on the :iir-nozzle 10. Mounted on either end of the insulating plate 11 are metallic supports 16, each of which comprises a lower rectangular portion- 17, Fig. 3, and a central upwardly projecting tapering portion 18. rrdjustably mounted in each of the supports 16 is an electrode 19. the said electrodes being adjustably held in .the supports by means of set screws 20. Each of the electrodes 19 has an angularly disposed arm 21,'said arms converging toward the top ofSthe air-nozzle 10, their arcing points 22 terminating di rectly above the orifice of said air-nozzle.

2 Mounted on the top of the rectangular portion 17 of the supports 16, on either side of the central projecting portion 18. are spring clips- 23, which normally tend to press against the sides of theprojection 18, and

25 are held on the base portion 17 of the support, by means of insulating strips 24, which rest upon lower bent portions of said spring clips, as shown in Fig. 3, and screws 25 which pass through said strips and into the base portion 17. Thenumerals'26 indicate two plates of mica, or similar material, such 'as fused silica, which are inserted at either end between the projection 18 and the spring clip 23, and converge upwardly leaving a narrow ySlit or outletslot 27 between their upper-edges; It will be seen that the plates '26 with theprojections 18, against the sides of which the plates 26 arepressed. at their ends, by spring clips 23, form a triangularshaped chamber inclosing the electrodes 19. andinto the bottom of which the nozzle 10 projects, said chamber, however, being open at its bottom. Y

The numerals 28, Fig. 1, indicate connecting screws which serve to attach the secondary terminals 29 of a step-up trans former 30 to the metallic supports 16, the

said terminals passing upward through insulat-ing bushings 31, mounted on the plate 3. In this way the electrical connection is made with the electrodes 19. The numeral 32 indicates the primany winding of the said step-up transformer, to which is connected, in series, an inductance 33 by means of wire 34,which wire,after passing through the said inductance. returns by lead 35 to the terminal 36 of the circuit. The numeral 37 indicates the other terminal of the circuit which, with the terminal 36, serves to con nect the entire apparatus. to a suitable source of alternating current (not shown). The inductance 33 has the ordinary laminated construction of an iron core with two legs, and upon the upper ends of the legs of this core are mounted laterally adjustable slides A set screw 15 holds the sleeve 12 in whichthe discharge from the electrodes is 38, Fig. 2, which are clamped into position by means of clamps 39, bolts 40 and nuts 41. As will be seen, these slides are of the same width as the legs of the core and have sufficient movement-"to either maintain the maximum air-gap between the legs, thereby making an open magnetic core construction, or to be brought together to makethe device virtually a closed magnetic circuit. The slides 38 are also of laminated construction, the laminations being held together by brass plates 42, insulated bolts 4L3 and nuts e l, and are movable laterally in slots 46, whereby,

as stated, they may be separated or brought together. As will be seen, the lines of force, passing through the winding of the inductance, or choke coil, 33, may be widely varied without opening the electrical circuit. By means of this design I am able to decrease the current passing across the are be-. tween the points 22, from 50% to 60% of the maximum. Referring now, particularly to Figs. 3, 4, and 5, the air-nozzle 10 is shown to have 2? slotted orifice 47 in its upper end. The walls of this slot diverge slightly so that the air blast passing therefrom, if unrestricted,-would be triangular in cross-section, as indicated by the dotted line 18. Thisair blast, however, impinges at 49 (see Fig. 8) upon plates 26 and forms a peculiar air vortex which is diagrammatically illustrated in said Fig. 8. By loosen ing the set screw 15, the electrodes 19 may be adjusted toward and from the outlet 47 of the air-nozzle as occasion may require. The air-nozzle of Fig. 3 is shown in plan view in Fig. et and in section in Fig. 3. In Figs. 6 and 7 a. modification of this air-nozzle is shown in which, in lieu of the transverse slot 427, I employ a series of apertures 50, arranged transversely of the air-nozzle,and each of these apertures is, or maybe, slightly tapered inwardly, as shown by Fig. 7, in the same manner as the slot 47 is tapered. In either form of air-nozzle, the air discharged from the outlet will, as heretofore mentioned, impinge upon the mica, or other plates26, at points 49 midway of the height of said plates, as indicated in Figs. 3 and .8. As shown by the latter figure the air will tend, after contact with the plates 26, to pass up the inner walls thereof and out through the opening 27 at the apex formed by these plates. Between these plates 26 which have an angular disposition with upward convergence, the air is expanded in a jet having a similar angular section inverted, which, of course, is accentuated by the flaring shape of the outlet 4L7. Thus it will be seen that the diverging air blast and the converging plates 26 form, as it were, two triangles extending in opposite directions and having a common base extending through the points 49 andforming a chamber in the lower of a iilm of air. while in the ar chamber it exi iosed to airument ot the converging streanr 'i lnother words. in the air chamhe lower triangle the arc is'mcrely relatively closely (JOIUIQCtOd immediately a ove the outlet l? or the airnomle 10. and divirge from this point upwardly. ll iien the. current passing, an

electric arc is est::blished between the points 0;

is the air pisses out through the orifice it diver r J. as stated. its shape being iairly represented by the resulting tlanie indicated in Fig. l y the nume 51, this flame being produced by the attenuatizni and spreading oi the primary arc r l be i been the terminals 12:! by the air l its will be seen the action of the air is eculiar to the particular type of appar described. The air leaving the oril'ice "It tends, as stated. to diverge or expand into the shape of an inverted triangle until it eng s the plates 26 at the points t9 where it sinl has considerable velocity. and at which points the flame has been already materially attenuated and passes upward from the points Jr?) to the outlet slot Bombardment of the flame due to converging streamlets of air occurs, and a 't'urther sub-division and attenuation ot' the flame becomes so marked that it can be readily distinguished with the naked eye. In addition aperture 27. still passing the air at some velocity narrows the flame transversely while it is at its maximum width, and the upward current o't'air through the outlet slot 2? still further spreads the, flame and, facilitates exposure. The air and tlame in their upward course pass through the opening 2'? of the converging plates while still interacting. is heretofore stated, the elliciency ot fixing atmospherie nitrogen depends to a far greater extent upon maximnm attenuation of the are than upon any other factor. The construction described above for attenuating and spreading the are yields an etliciency which, to my knowledge, heretotore has not been obtained at the same current consumption. For example. l have been able to obtain with an expenditure of 00 watts parallel, it not superior. results to those heretofore obtained with the expenditure of over 2,000 watts in the use of my tormer type ot apparatus rcterred to. If plates 233 be removed. the section o'l the flame becomes entirely ditlerent. representing now merely a narrow cone no wider that tween the points 22. lly t of the conv "ring plates slight separation at the ap consequent ettect oi" the air into the chamber formed theretore. ing but a and the l nd is forced by the air blast into e distance be secure a relatively enormous attenuation and spreading of the arc the relative proportions of which l have attempted to indicate in Fig. l by the llame discharge M, with resultant high cllicieucy in the production o'l gas. i lxperiments have shown that the power factor of the transformer is materially and benelicially allect d by the specific design herein described.

While the operation and ellects of the adjustable inductance will be clear to those skilled in the art it may, nevertheless, be desirable to brielly indicate the action of thi apparatus in operation. An alternat- 'ug current ot. say tllYr-yclcs and 110 volts being applied through terminals 36 and 37 and passing thence. as sh-mvn, through the inductance coils to the primary, induce in c secondary coil ot the stepaip trans .mcr a current of high potential, say, MM) volts, and low amperage, which tends to establish a flaming arc across the sparkgap formed between the points 22] This llame is (d such temperature that, without the proper application of air, it would instantly fuse the silica or mica plates, such as the plates 26. With the air applied according to my novel design, however, a brilliant, inlinitely sub-divided, tan-shaped, disruptive discharge .takes place of relatively tremendous area and ot such low ten'iperature that an ordinary match held above or within the lame will not ignite. To those skilled in the art of chemistry the importance of this extremely low temperature within the zone of the arc will be apparent as willbe its relation to the elliciency ot' the output. Such lovw temperature is doubtless due to the fact that the peculiar angular air dis tribution within the chamber formed by plates 26 and supports 16. precludes the tormation of even minute Flames 0 arcs, the

electrical energy being almost entirely expended inthe form of a disruptive discharge. Furthermore, as will readily be seen. the air while exposed to the action of theactive electrical lischarge is always maintained at a pressure above atmospheric. and this appears to bring about a thermic balance tending to explain the extremely low ten'iperature existing within and above the Zone of action.

The. air-nozzle 10. which as stated may have either a single transverse slot lying parallel to the walls of the arcing chamber, or a number of transverse tapered apertures. also extending parallel to the walls of the arcing chamber. produces a geometrical shape ol the air jet which isthe geometrical shape in cross-section inverted of the arcing chamber itsel t. The transverse extension or length ol th e slot 27 forming the apex of the arcing chamber is also extremely important as a lactor in widening the zone of reaction, 2'. c... in producing the maximum longitudinal dispersion of the flame with a minimum dispersion in a direction at right angles thereto.

I claim.

1. In an apparatus for gene 'ating gases from an electric discharge, in combination with an arcing chamber having upwardly converging walls, electrodes mounted therein and connected with a suitable source of electricity and ineans for directing a diverging blast of air upwardly between the electrodes, and against the walls of said chamber.

2. In an apparatus ot' the class described,

' in combination with an arcing chamber havbetween the electrodes and against the walls of said chamber.

I. In an apparatus of the class described, in combination with an arcing chamber having upwardly converging walls, electrodes mounted therein and connected with a suitable source of electricity and an air-"nozzle having an outlet opening shaped to provide a blast of air of angular section corresponding to the similar shape, inverted. of the arcing chamber. v

In an apparatus of the class described,

' in combination with an arcing chamber having upwardly converging walls, a. pair of diverging electrodes mounted in said chamber and an air-nozzle having an orifice located below the converging ends of said electrodes and extending longitudinally of the electrode chamber.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, in combination with an arcing chamber having upwardly converging walls,a pair of electrodes mounted therein and-diverging upwardly in a longitudinal plane of said chamber, means for producing an arc at the converging ends of said electrodes and an air-nozzle having an orifice located below the zone of said are and extended longitudinally of said chamber.

7. In an apparatus of the class described in combination with an arcing chamber having upwardly converging walls, electrodes mounted therein and'connected with a suitable source of electricity and an air-nozzle located below the arcing ends of said electrodes and having-an orifice diverging outwardly and upwardly. 7

h 8. In an apparatus of the class described in combination with an arcing chamber having upwardly converging walls, providing a continuous opening at the apex, electrodes mounted therein c'onnected'with a suitable source of electricity, and means for directing a diverging blast of air upwardly between the electrodes and against the walls of said chamber.

9. In combination with a support, a pair of converging plates of mica, or similar material. mounted thereon providing a continuous opening at the apex, a pair of electrodes mounted in said chamber and connected with a suitable source of electricity and diverging upwardly over other arcing terminals -in the longitudinal plane of said chamber, and an air-nozzle having an orifice located below the arcing terminals of said electrodes and diverging upwardly transversely of said chamber and extending longitudinally thereof.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination with an arcing chamber, having electrodes mounted therein, means for producinga blast of air between the electrodes, and means for producing an arc between said electrodes, comprising an electric circuit including an inductance, the iron circuit of which is adjustable from a completely closed to a partially opened magnetic path.

11. In a device of the class-described, in combination with the electrodes and means for producing an are between the same, means for varying the arc comprising a choke coil having legs provided with slide members adjustable toward and from each other to vary the magnetic path.

12. In an appa 'atus of the class described, in combination with an arcing chamber having upwardly converging walls, electrodes mounted therein and connected with a suitable source of electricity, and means for directing a diverging blast of air upwardly between the electrodes and against the walls of said chamber whereby-a zone of air blast In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.-

ERNEST E. \VERNER. 

